Submission Type
Event
Expected Graduation Date
2011
Location
Center for Natural Sciences, Illinois Wesleyan University
Start Date
4-9-2011 2:35 PM
End Date
4-9-2011 3:35 PM
Disciplines
Sociology
Abstract
In preparation for a North Central Accreditation campus visit in 2012, the Department of Sociology and Anthropology updated their student learning outcomes for majors and program goals and objectives for both disciplines. One part of the assessment centered on the faculty's evidence regarding their effectiveness as teachers in meeting program goals-objectives, and another part addressed present and alumni students' perceptions of their learning outcomes in their majors and general education. Accomplishing that assessment of the programs and student learning outcomes went through a number of stages, each examining a facet of the programs since 2002, the previous University accreditation visit. The stages resulted in:
1. Reviewing other national liberal arts universities' present programs that assess their departments' goals-objectives and majors' student learning outcomes.
2. Updating IWU's faculty goals and objectives for the Sociology and Anthropology programs.
3. Gathering the Sociology program's syllabi to compare how current course objectives and assignments align with each major's goals, objectives, and student learning outcomes.
4. Surveying current and past Sociology majors and minors (alumni since 2000) regarding their perceptions of the department's general programs, their learning as majors, and their learning in a liberal arts setting.
Findings from the above data and information gained at the above stages will result in modifications to the current programs and student learning for majors. Regular reviews of the assessment of student learning outcomes and effective teaching will continue into the future.
Included in
An Assessment Plan of the Sociology Program at Illinois Wesleyan University
Center for Natural Sciences, Illinois Wesleyan University
In preparation for a North Central Accreditation campus visit in 2012, the Department of Sociology and Anthropology updated their student learning outcomes for majors and program goals and objectives for both disciplines. One part of the assessment centered on the faculty's evidence regarding their effectiveness as teachers in meeting program goals-objectives, and another part addressed present and alumni students' perceptions of their learning outcomes in their majors and general education. Accomplishing that assessment of the programs and student learning outcomes went through a number of stages, each examining a facet of the programs since 2002, the previous University accreditation visit. The stages resulted in:
1. Reviewing other national liberal arts universities' present programs that assess their departments' goals-objectives and majors' student learning outcomes.
2. Updating IWU's faculty goals and objectives for the Sociology and Anthropology programs.
3. Gathering the Sociology program's syllabi to compare how current course objectives and assignments align with each major's goals, objectives, and student learning outcomes.
4. Surveying current and past Sociology majors and minors (alumni since 2000) regarding their perceptions of the department's general programs, their learning as majors, and their learning in a liberal arts setting.
Findings from the above data and information gained at the above stages will result in modifications to the current programs and student learning for majors. Regular reviews of the assessment of student learning outcomes and effective teaching will continue into the future.